Yes?
This slow drip of the car list has only caused confusion, and they (alongside people trying to be smart asses) can say that the list they made is always changing, and will be added until release, but the way that vehicles have been seen in the preview builds, but not on the list, and vice versa, plus that entire business with the Valhalla being clearly the V6 prototype, and not the V8 that PG was swearing in the two times that they mentioned it in their social media feeds was, certainly hasn't given people the impression that what PG is doing is in any way actually thought out, and certainly not helping the perception that FH5 is the great leap forward that it could be. These sorts of things are damaging in the lead up to release.
Which, on the other side of that token...
What do you think Playground could do to make that not the case considering the circumstances? Keep in mind that it's been made crystal clear that any of the actual, earth shattering changes that Playground could make to the Horizon series can't be made until Forza 8 releases and PG get their hands on the next iteration of the Forzatech engine, considering it seems quite obvious that T10 takes lead on any of those big ticket items, being the halo studio. Keep in mind that this is also a game that takes pride it casting a wide net, and any sort of pivot towards simulation is going to be met with disinterest from those who wouldn't have played a racing game other wise (Which, truth be told, is what most people, specifically on this forum, but outside of it as well, are going to suggest) Plus, as mentioned, the actual gameplay loop of Forza Horizon, for the past few games, has been actually pretty solid. It's open enough to a point where it doesn't feel daunting at the beginning, and it appeals to most. It's only with 4 that it becomes way too open, too early, and holds your hand in the beginning early, but even then, as you get into a rhythm and play more of the game, it feels a bit more natural.
It's clear by this point that Forza needs competition, but be truthful with yourself, where is it going to come from?
- The Crew? Ubisoft only cares about that title because it makes a few bucks, and some people still play it. It doesn't hold a candle to Rainbow Six Siege, which is Ubisoft's true online moneymaker. Hell, by this point, The Crew is probably lower on the totem pole then even mostly single player affairs like Far Cry and Assassin's Creed.
- NFS? EA and the devs of the series are too scared of pissing off the tribal camps that make up the NFS fanbase by this point to do anything actually interesting and unique, and are simply just going to bounce off cops and supercars and tuners street racing until the heat death of the universe.
- TDU Solar Crown? You're expecting a game from a series who's last entry was synonymous with the disasters that befall the launch of an online focused game, alongside being from a developer and publisher who are insulated by the relative cushyness of a license that not many in the racing game world care about that much. A license, it should be noted, they're going to lose a year before TDU:SC's release and are banking on TDU's success being the next big money maker for the company? I don't know about you, but that's a massive red flag.
- An effort from Sony? Considering they killed Evolution, for conspiratorial (in my mind) reasons, and Kaz is off trying to grift people that the next iteration of GT is going to offer Vocaloid support or whatever, that's never happening.
So yeah. Forza has no competition other then itself, and it's pretty clear that competition is coming with Horizon 6.
This is where I am at as well. It's pretty clear that Horizon 5 is in the same transitional period as a yearly sports game franchise that still has to make a game for the previous gen before going all in for next gen the next year. It's pretty obvious that Horizon 6 is going to be the big one, the one that truly blows the doors off the series, it's simply a matter of waiting for Forza 8 to release to get to work, and for the next gen to take hold and not be such a large piece of the pie before doing so.